Understanding the true value of “value engineering”. More than just cheap…

Thursday 16th March 2017

What is the true meaning of value engineering? Wikipedia says: Value engineering (VE) is a systematic method to improve the “value” of goods or products and services by using an examination of function. Value, as defined, is the ratio of function to cost. Value can therefore be increased by either improving the function or reducing…

Value engineering (VE) is a systematic method to improve the “value” of goods or products and services by using an examination of function. Value, as defined, is the ratio of function to cost. Value can therefore be increased by either improving the function or reducing the cost.

That seems logical. In the world of furniture solutions for commercial interiors it’s simple to understand. Pay less to keep your laptop or computer at the right height above the ground to make it useable. How simple is furniture!

But then you have other things to consider… Lots of other things, some easy to measure, some less so, take a moment and allow us to explain. The term “value” is often translated to “cheap”. But you will the quote from the masterminds at Wikipedia that the term “value”, is the ratio of “function to cost”.

We were recently told that Claremont Centre is in essence a logistics company, ignoring the fact we make the product in our own factories, once that bit is done, we ship it, store it, load it, truck it and deliver it. So if you look at us as said logistics company, where is our value?

Our value engineering is our ability to always respond, so you know what’s happening. To always stick by our word; delivering on time, in full, always. We do that with processes that have evolved and been mastered for years, built on the foundation of knowledge that buying furniture can be really frustrating, not as simple as perhaps it was made to be earlier. We were a furniture dealer years ago, so the good news is, we get it, bad news is, we get it…

We are that good because of the people in our team, the desire from every member of the team to make you look good, our stock holding and our warehouse fulfilment programme. So in actual fact, everything we do is done to make your life easier, we provide quotes same day, can deliver product next day, we provide planning blocks, 3D blocks and high resolution images to help you market our product.

A business needs to be value engineered, not just a product

Our business is value engineered, for those of you that have used will know that (and how we would love for you tell us on Twitter or LinkedIn).

Our products are well priced, done to make it easy for you to sell, we all know there are cheaper “VE” products, but when looking at the product, don’t just check it stops your laptop hitting the ground and then go for the cheapest. Consider the support from the company you are buying from, the associated pitch material that can be supplied, consider the representation on site from the delivery team and the installers, consider the after sales care, the 10 year warranty and that all important desire to make your life and make you look good. And when you’ve done that, re-evaluate what VE means to you.

If you can confidently say you’ve found that company and they have a product cheaper than ours, let us know, and we’ll introduce you to Bench Lite, our first product that we actually describe as value engineered. Why? Because it is cost effective, cheap maybe, but it’s wrapped with the service and care from Claremont Centre, a true value engineered proposition.

Why value engineer in the first place?

Maybe your whole project doesn’t need to be value engineered because the project has a tight budget? Perhaps the desks need to be value engineered because the time spent at them is less than the time spent in collaborative spaces? Perhaps there is greater value in the third space, to staff retention through engagement? Value engineered products aren’t just for low budget installs, they can also shift spend to areas more important to those that use the space.

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